Dozens of mothers are celebrating after giving birth on the same day as the Duchess of Cambridge - but for six women who had their babies at the Prince Charles Hospital, the coincidence was even more special.

At the hospital in Merthyr Tydfil which is named after the Prince of Wales, the new mothers spoke of their joy at being able to share Kate's big day.

Sian Hollifield and her husband Jason were surprised at the coincidence, as their son was not due to be born until next month.

However, Mrs Hollifield, 34, went into labour two weeks early, and her baby Max was delivered at 3.06pm on Monday - little more than an hour before the future king.

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Linsey Lewis and her partner Tim Owens had their new daughter Carys at Prince Charles Hospital early on Monday morning.

'She's very small but she's doing really well,' Miss Lewis, 28, said. 'It was fantastic to be able to share the date with the royal baby.'

Another Kate: Catherine Middleton, 25, who gave birth to baby Emily just days before the Duchess

The Duchess of Cambridge may have the eyes of the world on her, but she is not the only Kate Middleton to have given birth this month.

Catherine Middleton, 25, had her second child Emily on July 1 - just three weeks before the arrival of the Royal baby.

The supermarket worker, from Southend, Essex, has long been accustomed to jokes about her name, ever since her namesake got engaged to Prince William in 2010.

But she was shocked by the parallels when it was announced that the Duchess was pregnant, only a few weeks after Miss Middleton discovered that she was expecting.

'When the news about her pregnancy came out I just couldn't believe it,' she said.

'I had already been getting a lot of attention since the wedding, but everyone was so excited our babies could have been born on the same day.'

Miss Middleton, who lives with her partner Steve Sargent, 33, is set to get married in Rochford, Essex, next Tuesday - meaning she will no longer have the same name as the Duchess.

As William and Kate celebrated becoming parents for the first time, dozens of mothers and fathers across the country welcomed their own newborn babies into the world on Monday.

Adam Miell was born just 10 minutes after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her son at 4.24pm.

First time parents: Beverly and Marc Miell, both 29, who welcomed their first son Adam into the world yesterday just 10 minutes after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth. Adam has received a special commemorative coin (right)

Parents Beverly and Marc, 29, had
faced a great wait for their first child just like Kate, but their boy
finally arrived on Monday at Princess Anne Hospital, in Southampton, Hampshire.

Baby Adam, who was 12 days overdue, has received a limited edition commemorative penny from the Royal Mint to mark the fact that he was born on the same day as the future monarch.

The special gift is being given to the parents of all children born on the same day as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son.

The baby, who was born by caesarean section, weighed 7lbs 14oz.

Newborn: Baby Adam Miell who was born in Southampton, Hampshire, at 4.34pm yesterday

The coin was presented to Adam's parents
in a blue pouch inside a card decorated with a teddy bear and the
message: 'Solid sterling silver good luck penny.'

It features a shield of the Royal Arms, with the three lions, the Scottish lion rampant and the harp of Ireland. Girls will receive the coin in a pink pouch.

Marc, from Southampton, said: 'We already knew Bev was expecting when Kate was admitted to hospital with morning sickness, very early on in her pregnancy.

'But because it was before Bev’s 12-week scan, we had only told our closest friends and family about it. We knew our dates and Kate’s dates were very similar, and there was therefore a chance we could give birth around the same time.

'Bev and I have followed all the developments closely ever since. We are both very patriotic and keen royalists, so it’s great to share this moment with royalty.

'We wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge the best of luck.'

At Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary Kathrine Kirtley, 24, gave birth at 8.40am to Robson James Kirtley, who weighed in at 9lb 7oz.

His mother has been referred to as 'Princess Kathrine' after the royal birth was announced on the same day.

She said: 'We are absolutely over the moon that Robson was born on the same day as the royal baby.

'I was eight days overdue, so it's surprising that Kate was really late as well - especially as we share the same name. Everyone has been calling me 'Princess Kathrine' - it has made Robson's birth even more special and amazing.'

Although Kathrine shares the same name as the future Queen, she chose not to leave her baby's name to fate. She and her husband John, 31, agreed to name their son Robson - but for different reasons.

John said: 'Kathrine was watching Extreme Fishing when she decided she wanted to name the baby after Robson Green.

'I'm a huge Newcastle United fan and thought we could name him after Bobby Robson - it worked out perfectly.

Katherine Kirtley pictured with her newborn son, Robson James Kirtley, who was also born yesterday

Robson weighed 9lb 7oz when he was born at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary at 8.40am yesterday

'If I had to recommend a name to the
Duchess of Cambridge, I would go with James - it's a strong, historic
name and it's my son's middle name too.'

RAF senior aircraftsman Jeffrey Stockdale, 30, yesterday also welcomed his newborn son Elijah into the world.

The baby, who weighed 8lb 5.5oz, was born at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington, Northumberland, just 50 minutes after the Duchess gave birth.

While
the Duke of Cambridge is expected to take two weeks of paid paternity
leave, Jeffrey will be forced to say goodbye to his newborn son tomorrow
as he returns to the Falklands for five months to fulfil his RAF
duties.

Mother Chelsea,
25, who is American, said: ‘It is quite fitting that Elijah shared his
birthday with the royal baby as they both have fathers in the RAF -
although I doubt Prince William will be going back to work quite as
soon.’

RAF father: Jeffrey Stockdale, 30, who flies to the Falklands tomorrow, with his newborn son Elijah and American wife Chelsea, 25

At least one baby was born at exactly the same time as the Prince - 4.24pm.

Natia Kavelashvili had her baby Kate in Basildon, Essex by caesarean yesterday afternoon.

'I was being prepared to have a caesarean earlier in the day, but there was an emergency so my caesarean was delayed for a while,' she said.

'It is strange to think that this meant I ended up having my baby at 4.24pm.'

The 26-year-old added: 'We always wanted to call her Kate but it seemed like such a coincidence that we couldn't really not.'

The new mother and her partner Damian Kilcoin already have a son, 15-month-old Luka.

Bang on: Natia Kavelashvili shows off her baby Kate alongside Basildon Hospital officials after giving birth at precisely the same time as the Duchess of Cambridge

In Portsmouth, Hampshire, Sarah Quinn, 20, gave birth to her first child a minute before the Duchess of Cambridge.

Her son Archie Harrison Mailey-Quinn arrived into the world at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, at 4.23pm yesterday.

Admin manager Sarah, said: 'We joked about our baby sharing his birthday with the Royal baby but we didn’t think it would happen because I was due the end of July.

'I was getting so many phone calls when the time of the Prince’s birth was announced - everyone couldn’t believe the closeness between the deliveries.

New mother: Sarah Quinn, from Southsea, Hampshire, with her new son Archie who was born a minute before the royal baby

'I didn’t know Kate had gone into labour until my mum told me when my labour pains started at 8am.

'I went to hospital at 1pm before having Archie at 4.23pm - it was a rush to beat her to the finish!'

Sarah, who has a fiancee Dan Mailey, 20, said her daughter weighed 6lb 1oz.

In Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Alex Morpeth, 18, delivered a baby girl just 19 minutes after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her son.

The dental nurse, who became a parent for the first time, named her 7lb 7oz child Ella Kate Watson.

She gave the child the middle-name Kate after her grandmother, and not the Duchess who was in labour at St Mary's Hospital, west London, at the same time as her.

Alex's partner Ryan Watson, 20, was present at her side during the birth at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.

The new mother said: 'I think I am still in shock. I haven't thought about Kate and William much but they are a nice couple and I think it is nice that she will share his birthday.'

New mother: Alex Morpeth, 18, with her daughter Ella Kate Watson who was born in Gateshead 19 minutes after the Duchess of Cambirdge gave birth in London

New mother: Dental nurse Alex with her 7lb 7oz daughter who was born just 19 minutes after the Duchess gave birth in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, yesterday

At Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary baby Joseph Richardson was born at 8.40pm to proud parents Kayley and Craig Richardson.

Craig, 24, a labourer, said: 'It's a day to remember. There will be a big celebration every birthday for the Royal baby and it's nice that William and Kate are celebrating someone born into the world like us.'

The couple already have a four-year-old daughter called Tia.

Parents: Kayley and Craig Richardson with their son Joseph who was born at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary

In Norwich, Norfolk, Rebecca Gale gave birth to her new son Benjamin William at 9.11am following an elective caesarean.

The 33-year-old, from the village of
Beeston Regis, Norfolk, already has two children, Evie, four, and Poppy,
two, and was up at 4am so her mother could collect them.

'I had sickness at the same time as Kate so I was trying to work out if we were around the same stage,' Mrs Gale said.

New baby: Rebecca Gale holding her newly born son, Benjamin, at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on the same day that the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her son

Newborn: Benjamin Gale who came into the world yesterday. he has two siblings Evie, four, and Poppy, two

'I feel sorry for her having to go through the whole labour in this heat but you soon get used to it.

'Her bump was a bit smaller than mine, which would have helped.'

Her husband Patrick Gale was at the hospital as she gave birth to her 8lb 13oz son.

Mrs Gale added: 'We found out Kate had been taken to hospital about half an hour after we arrived. We knew it might be possible but when we heard that we were quite excited.'

A baby born in Gateshead yesterday will have a very different upbringing to the new Prince born just a few hundred miles away.

John James Gray will grow up on the Leam Lane estate, which is one of the biggest council estates in Europe. Meanwhile, the royal baby will move into Kensington Palace later this year.

Very different upbringing: John James Gray will grow up with his mother Nicola on a council estate in Gateshead - a far cry from the life the new prince will enjoy

Baby John James was born at 9.55am yesterday weighing 8lb 8oz.

His mother Nicola said: 'It would always be a historical day when my son was born, no matter what day it was. It is historical for me.

'I am really happy for them they have had their baby but it's my baby's day as well. It's nice to see her get on with it like everyone else has to. John James is my prince.'

If the royal baby follows in the career footsteps of his father, he could find himself pulling rank as a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF.

If John James decides to go into the same industry as his father - also called John James - he will spend his days labouring in a metal factory.

In Maidstone, Kent, baby Zach Hobson was born to parents Vicky and Ross Hobson at 11.40am yesterday

The little boy, who weighed 9lbs 6oz, was the third child for the couple, who already have five-year-old daughter Eva and three-year-old son Cameron.

Vicky said it was 'an honour' to have Zach on the same day as the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her first child.

She said: 'It's lovely. Zach was born first so we were waiting to see if Kate would have her baby on the same day. It'll be really nice to hear what they call him.'

Ross, who works with his wife for BAE engineering company, said: 'We followed the royal birth. When Vicky's waters broke I was in the shower and I put on the news and heard that Kate had also gone into labour.

'We had a TV in the hospital room and after things had settled down we watched the coverage.'

Baby Jackson Marshall just made the royal birthday - arriving last night just a minute before midnight.

Jackson Marshall was born to proud parents Gemma and Jack Marshall at the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire.

Office worker Ms Marshall, 24, went into labour at 11am and had a natural birth to deliver her second baby, who weighed in at a whopping 9lb 10oz.

As Jackson slept contentedly in his lorry driver father's arms this afternoon, Ms Marshall said with a smile: 'We scraped it. We were hoping that we would do it and we finally did, so that was a good thing.'

* Parents of children born on July
22, 2013, have 60 days to claim the commemorative coin, by applying
through The Royal Mint’s Facebook page.

The Royal Mint is one of the world’s
oldest organisations, with an unbroken history of minting British
coinage dating back over 1,000 years.